Atiku Has Less Than 1% of Tinubu’s War Chest — Dele Momodu

Dele Momodu

Atiku Has Less Than 1% of Tinubu’s War Chest — Dele Momodu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar does not possess the financial strength required to compete effectively with Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Momodu, publisher of Ovation International magazine and a former presidential aspirant, made the remarks during a guest appearance on Politics Today, a political programme on Channels Television, where he discussed Nigeria’s political climate ahead of the next general election.

During the interview, Momodu warned that Nigeria risks drifting toward a one-party state, comparing the current political atmosphere to the era of former military ruler Sani Abacha. According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently enjoys overwhelming political and financial advantages, which could make it difficult for opposition figures to mount a strong challenge. “I will describe this moment as being worse than that of the Abacha government. Many people are worried that we now have virtually a one-party state,” Momodu said. He further argued that President Tinubu commands enormous financial and political resources that potential challengers may struggle to match. “Atiku does not have one per cent of Tinubu’s war chest. No, he doesn’t have it. You can imagine how much Tinubu can generate from Lagos State alone, not to talk of the nation. And when you have an absolute ruler, everything is available to him,” he added.

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Despite his comments on the financial gap between the two camps, Momodu insisted that his support for Atiku remains genuine and rooted in his belief in strong opposition politics in Nigeria. He dismissed speculation that he might betray the former vice president or secretly align with the ruling party, saying he had never attended any covert meeting without Atiku’s knowledge. “It’s easier for me to move to Tinubu than to move to Atiku. I’m one million times closer to Tinubu than to Atiku. In fact, people were telling Atiku that Dele is Tinubu’s spy till today. Don’t trust him,” Momodu said. “But there is nothing to spy on. I have not attended any secret private meeting without Atiku. If I’m with Atiku, that should show you that we are people who have a genuine interest in the country.”

Momodu also rejected claims that opposition figures are afraid of President Tinubu, arguing instead that the administration may be worried about public dissatisfaction over economic hardship. “You asked who is afraid of Tinubu. I would like to answer that question. It is Tinubu who is afraid of Nigerians. That is why they are cooking all kinds of cocktails, which you call strategy,” he said. He criticised the government’s handling of economic challenges, claiming many Nigerians are facing severe hardship while the administration appears disconnected from the realities on the ground. “Nigerians are suffering. I think the Tinubu government is living on another planet. They are not being realistic and have their own delusion of grandeur,” he added.

Momodu’s comments come as political discussions intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition parties exploring alliances and strategies that could challenge the dominance of the APC. In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu defeated Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, in a tightly contested race that reshaped Nigeria’s political landscape. Political analysts say the debate over funding, coalition-building, and candidate selection is likely to intensify in the coming years as opposition figures attempt to consolidate support across Nigeria’s diverse political and regional blocs.